Gabby Petito Movie Faces Backlash For Being What Some Say Is Too Soon

BLUE POINT, NY — The Lifetime Network is facing some backlash on social media for its quick rollout of "The Gabby Petito Story."

The 22-year-old Long Island native was last seen alive on Aug. 24, 2021, while on a cross-country camping trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. Laundrie showed up back at his parents' house in Florida in her van and refused to speak with police about her disappearance. He later walked into a Florida swamp and penned a suicide note admitting he strangled her before shooting himself in the head.

Petito's remains were found near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming in September 2021.

Petito's parents formed The Gabby Petito Foundation in the wake of her death to help the families of missing people and the victims of domestic violence.

Her case received wide-spread media attention that lead to several television specials, a documentary, and now a feature movie that premieres Saturday night.

Some say it's just way too soon.

Following a Facebook post with a sneak peek from the movie, followers lashed out at the network.

One person wrote: "Kinda too soon for this!!"

Another replied, "I'm interested in true crime. But this does feel too soon. I feel like we don't really know the whole story yet."

"Way, way too soon to be making shows and movies about this.. just awful," yet another follower wrote.

In a second post highlighting the movie, another person wrote: "This is disgusting. I can't believe you're profiting over this families tragic story."

The backlash was much worse on Twitter.

"I feel that instead of Lifetime doing a movie about the murder of Gabby Petito, they can just invest in large vats of salt which they can then pour directly into the very raw and open wounds of Gabby’s friends and family who are still grieving losing her a little over a year ago," wrote one person.

And another opined: "I can’t believe lifetime is making a movie about Gabby Petito… it’s only been a year. I wonder how her family feels because this is just so f----- up."

Another had a suggestion.

"There is a difference between true crime journalism and true crime entertainment. Lifetime’s Gabby Petito movie is bad entertainment with no journalistic mission. Turn it off," the tweet read.

The film's producers have previously said that the movie, starring Skylar Samuels and Evan Hall, will explore Petito and Laundrie's complicated relationship.

In a sneak peek this week on Inside Edition, several scenes were shown that were recreated from the couple's journey, including the highly-publicized traffic stop by police in Moab, Utah, in which the pair was detained after a fight on Main Street.

Back in May, producers said the film is part of Lifetime’s Stop Violence Against Women public affairs initiative and as part of that there will be a new Public Service Announcement to debut "as part of the movie’s rollout, driving to the important work of the network’s coalition of partners to provide resources for women."

When asked by MovieMaker.com if she believed it was too soon to make the film director Thora Birch said she was first inclined to think it was when she began exploring the story in February.

"But ultimately, I came to be confused by that assertion, because it avoids the true question when it comes to telling Gabby’s story, or that of so many others who have fallen victim to domestic violence: How should one approach such a delicate endeavor?" she told the website. "Simply choosing not to engage doesn’t honor her memory, and doesn’t shine a light on situations that are all too common."

Petito's family has previously said that they do not approve of the movie, according to a report in The Sun.

In a statement issued by the AWARE Foundation, which has partnered with the Schmidt/Petito family on domestic violence programs, Schmidt said: "We thought our followers should know that the Lifetime movie on Gabby Petito has no connection to the Petito family nor did they give their approval," the statement shared by the foundation reads.

"Lifetime took it upon themselves to make the movie," the statement read.

Birch told Newsday that after some initial contact with Petito's family members earlier this year, there has just been "radio silence."

In an email to the outlet, Petito's mother, Nicole Schmidt, denied she acknowledged it, saying, "Please know that we don't have any comment pertaining to the movie."

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